"We weren't going to use him in Boston," said coach Paul MacLean, who is opting instead for the add muscle of Matt Kassian when the Senators conclude their pre-Olympics schedule Saturday afternoon against the Bruins. "(Da Costa) is a young player and we want to keep him playing. He played fine. He provided the offence for us, and if we need him again after the break, we'll bring him back."

For clarification, MacLean was asked if there was "no guarantee" that Da Costa, one of the Senators most productive players of late, would be recalled after the break.

"No guarantee, no," he said.

The transaction had a fallout affect on all four lines at Friday's practice.